As we grow older, the needs of our hair changes. Mature textured hair is more at risk for damage and breakage than any other hair type. So no matter how you decide to wear your mature textured hair; natural, locs, braided, flat ironed, etc., below are 10 hair care tips to help protect your beautiful deep rooted tresses.
- Protect Your Hair at Night
Use a silk scarf to cover your hair at night. You may also use a silk pillowcase to lay your head of hair on. This practice helps to protect your hair from losing moisture and becoming brittle. It also reduces friction where the hair meets the material covering or touching the hair.
- No Tug-of-War
Do NOT pull, rip or tug your hair while detangling. Excessive tugging and pulling the hair may cause it to break or split. When detangling, use a detangling brush or a wide-tooth comb. Detangle in the motion from the ends upwards.
- Hydration
“My hair is too lusciously moisturized and hydrated!”, said no one. Ever. I rest my case. Water is beneficial to the health of our hair. It lubricates our hair follicles, stimulates growth, and infuses our strands with vital minerals and nutrients. Drinking at least 6 glasses of water daily has been shown to strengthen, grow and moisturize our hair. Incorporate a deep-conditioner or hair mask into your hair care regimen. It helps hydrate dry hair while encouraging a smooth and frizz-free texture.
- Cut Off Split Ends
It can be a major pain when attempting to grow long hair and some will leave split ends unattended for fear of losing the growth. However, cutting split ends is essential for healthy hair. Split ends don’t fix themselves. If left unchecked, they get worse and can cause even greater damage to the hair shaft by splitting further.
- Take Care of Your Strands
Three rules you can follow are: trim your ends, oil them and conceal them. Once there is breakage, the best thing to do is to cut them. Follow that with applying moisture through oiling and end it with concealing with protective styles that are not tight and go against pulling and tugging.
- Consistent Care
Using too many products as part of your regimen may be problematic for your hair. The idea is to stick with the same or similar products or product line that is best suited for your hair type and hair needs. Use products that cleanse conditions, nourish and protects hair efficiently. Water, for example, is your friend and textured hair loves hydration. So, if you have highly textured hair, use products that hydrate. A safe bet is to use products designed for all hair types to achieve desired results.
- Be Gentle
Though the quick use of the curling iron adds a bit more pizzazz in how your hair is presented, that heat hair appliance promotes hair damage when used often. Instead, consider wrapping your hair at night, using satin-covered rollers, or using products that activate curls in your hair with the use of little to no heat application. If you must use heat, it's best to look for products that are thermal protectant/heat resistant.
- Shampoo Regularly
Though it is not advised to wash your hair every day, it needs to be washed periodically based on your lifestyle. Hair is subject to dust, dirt, grime, and pollution every day. Not shampooing encourages dirt build up and may impact hair-growth. Consider as well that sweat contributes to this. Using the right shampoo promotes good hygiene as much as it promotes good hair-care practices.
- Be Patient
As tempting as it is to style hop, be patient when growing out relaxers. Allow the hair to grow out with little to no manipulation from harmful practices such as stripping relaxers from your hair or even using dish detergent or harsh hair products (e.g. sulfates). Your hair just needs time to grow. Relaxers are permanent. They change the chemical and physical structure of your hair. Patience is the only way to go. Once it grows out, you will adjust according to the hair type and curl pattern.
- Nice & Loose
Do away with the saying, “with beauty comes pain”. If your hairstyle causes pain or discomfort, it is too tight and will cause damage. Focus on low-manipulation protective styles that avoid hair breakage and increase length retention. Stay away from tight ponytails and buns, as these can cause traction alopecia or loss of edges. If braiding, go with loose braids, to reduce stress on your strands. You want to keep a style for a long period of time, we get that. However, do not lose your hair in the name of maintaining a tight style.
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